LOS ANGELES – A sweeping federal indictment unsealed Thursday alleges a transnational criminal conspiracy to fix the outcomes of US college adn Chinese professional basketball games. Twenty-six individuals have been charged with bribery and related offenses, stemming from a scheme involving nearly 30 contests.
International Conspiracy to Rig Games
Federal prosecutors revealed charges related to a complex plot to manipulate scores for illicit betting gains.
- The alleged scheme originated in China around September 2022.
- More than 39 US college players were allegedly offered bribes, up to $30,000 per game.
- Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney is named in the indictment but has not been charged.
- Defendants face up to five years in prison if convicted on bribery charges.
“We allege an extensive international criminal conspiracy of… players, alumni and professional bettors who fixed games across the contry and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain,” stated federal prosecutor David Metcalf during a press conference. “This was a massive scheme. It enveloped the world of college basketball.”
The indictment, filed in Philadelphia, details how an illegal sports gambling network first took root in China in or around September 2022. The operation proved lucrative, prompting conspirators to expand their reach to NCAA Division I men’s basketball in the United states.
From China to the NCAA
Former NBA chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney, currently playing for the Jiangsu Dragons in the Chinese Basketball association, is alleged to have been recruited to influence game outcomes.Authorities claim a package containing nearly $200,000 in cash was left in Blakeney’s Florida storage unit at the conclusion of the 2022-23 CBA season. Blakeney is “charged elsewhere,” according to the indictment.
Prosecutors allege that defendants offered bribes totaling up to $30,000 per game to over 39 US college players, facilitating wagers amounting to millions of dollars. More than a dozen of the defendants have participated in college basketball within the last three years.
What are the potential penalties for those convicted? Defendants convicted on the bribery charges could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
This case arrives amid a broader reckoning in US sports, following previous federal investigations that led to the arrest of an NBA coach and player in October. The rise of legalized sports wagering, which became widespread in most US states after 2018, has prompted leagues to reassess their policies. The NBA stated last year it is reviewing its reg
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